Wannabe rap mogul convicted of murdering partner

Updated 11:05 pm, Tuesday, April 9, 2013

Anthony Johnson, 23, waits for the jury to return after reaching a verdict during his murder trial in Bexar County District Court.

Anthony Johnson, 23, waits for the jury to return after reaching a verdict during his murder trial in Bexar County District Court.

Photo: Jerry Lara, San Antonio Express-News

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Anthony Johnson, 23, waits for the jury to return after reaching a verdict during his murder trial in the Bexar County 290th District Court, Tuesday, April 9, 2013. A few minutes later, Johnson was found guilty of killing local hip-hop artist, Rodrique Ngande, 21, in November 2011. The punishment phase of the trial will start on Wednesday.

Anthony Johnson, 23, waits for the jury to return after reaching a verdict during his murder trial in the Bexar County 290th District Court, Tuesday, April 9, 2013. A few minutes later, Johnson was found guilty

Anthony Johnson, 23, waits for the jury to return after reaching a verdict during his murder trial in Bexar County District Court. The jurors determined that Johnson was guilty of killing roommate Romuald Rodrique Ngande, who used the stage name Romey Rome Beatz.

Anthony Johnson, 23, waits for the jury to return after reaching a verdict during his murder trial in Bexar County District Court. The jurors determined that Johnson was guilty of killing roommate Romuald

Nadine and Paul Ngande embrace outside the courtroom after Johnson was found guilty of killing their son. The punishment phase of the trial begins Wednesday.

Nadine and Paul Ngande embrace outside the courtroom after Johnson was found guilty of killing their son. The punishment phase of the trial begins Wednesday.

Photo: Photos By Jerry Lara / San Antonio Express-News

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Nadine and Paul Ngande react outside the Bexar County 290th District Court after their son's killer was found guilty of murder on April 9, 2013. Anthony Johnson, 23, murdered Rodrigue Ngande, his roommate, in November 2011. Ngande was a local hip-hop artist that went by the stage name of "Romey Rome Beatz." The punishment phase of the trial begins on Wednesday.

Nadine and Paul Ngande react outside the Bexar County 290th District Court after their son's killer was found guilty of murder on April 9, 2013. Anthony Johnson, 23, murdered Rodrigue Ngande, his roommate, in

Nadine and Paul Ngande, left, and other family members, react outside the Bexar County 290th District Court after their son's killer is found guilty of murder on April 9, 2013. Anthony Johnson, 23, murdered Rodrigue Ngande, his roommate, in November 2011. Ngande was a local hip-hop artist that went by the stage name of "Romey Rome Beatz." The punishment phase of the trial begins on Wednesday.

Nadine and Paul Ngande, left, and other family members, react outside the Bexar County 290th District Court after their son's killer is found guilty of murder on April 9, 2013. Anthony Johnson, 23, murdered

Nadine and Paul Ngand react outside the Bexar County 290th District Court after their son's killer was found guilty of murder on April 9, 2013. Anthony Johnson, 23, murdered Rodrigue Ngande, his roommate, in November 2011. Ngande was a local hip-hop artist that went by the stage name of "Romey Rome Beatz." The punishment phase of the trial begins on Wednesday.

Nadine and Paul Ngand react outside the Bexar County 290th District Court after their son's killer was found guilty of murder on April 9, 2013. Anthony Johnson, 23, murdered Rodrigue Ngande, his roommate, in

Nadine and Paul Ngand react outside the Bexar County 290th District Court after their son's killer was found guilty of murder on April 9, 2013. Anthony Johnson, 23, murdered Rodrigue Ngande, his roommate, in November 2011. Ngande was a local hip-hop artist that went by the stage name of "Romey Rome Beatz." The punishment phase of the trial begins on Wednesday.

Nadine and Paul Ngand react outside the Bexar County 290th District Court after their son's killer was found guilty of murder on April 9, 2013. Anthony Johnson, 23, murdered Rodrigue Ngande, his roommate, in

A state's exhibit of rap lyrics wtitten by murder defendant Anthony Johnson is displayed on a screen in 290th Criminal District Court Monday April 8, 2013. Johnson,23, shot and killed his business partner with an AK-47 in 2011.

A state's exhibit of rap lyrics wtitten by murder defendant Anthony Johnson is displayed on a screen in 290th Criminal District Court Monday April 8, 2013. Johnson,23, shot and killed his business partner with

Murder defendant Anthony Johnson, who once billed himself as CEO of San Antonio hip-hop record label So Fly Entertainment, takes the witness stand Monday April 8, 2013 to explain the fatal shooting in 2011 of his roommate and producer.

Murder defendant Anthony Johnson, who once billed himself as CEO of San Antonio hip-hop record label So Fly Entertainment, takes the witness stand Monday April 8, 2013 to explain the fatal shooting in 2011 of

Murder defendant Anthony Johnson, who once billed himself as CEO of San Antonio hip-hop record label So Fly Entertainment, takes the witness stand Monday April 8, 2013 to explain the fatal shooting in 2011 of his roommate and producer.

Murder defendant Anthony Johnson, who once billed himself as CEO of San Antonio hip-hop record label So Fly Entertainment, takes the witness stand Monday April 8, 2013 to explain the fatal shooting in 2011 of

Jurors rejected a self-defense claim Tuesday from a wannabe San Antonio music mogul who shot his roommate at close range with an AK-47 during an ongoing spat over management of their hip-hop record label.

Anthony Johnson, 23, was found guilty of murder after 61/2 hours of jury deliberations.

State District Judge Melisa Skinner ordered the group to return to her courtroom Wednesday morning to begin the trial's punishment phase.

Johnson, who now faces up to life in prison, was apprehended in November 2011 — minutes after a third roommate, rap artist Reggie “Smoke Boogie” Anderson, jumped off their second-story balcony to report the slaying.

Music producer Romuald Rodrique Ngande, described as having a local but growing reputation under the stage name “Romey Rome Beatz,” was found dead of a single gunshot wound in the hallway of their North Side apartment.

Ngande, 21, had provided the talent and experience while Johnson provided a hefty personal injury settlement to form So Fly Entertainment together. The Warren High alums released four albums before Johnson ran out of money.

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But their partnership had degraded to the point of exchanging insults via Facebook in separate rooms of their apartment on the night before the shooting, the defendant said.

That argument only intensified the next morning as Ngande threatened the defendant outside the locked door of his bedroom then burst in his room, defense attorney Michael Hoyle said during closing arguments.

“We're talking about a bunch of guys who think they're hip hop stars in San Antonio. They're not living the dream — they're living in a dream,” Hoyle said. “They started to believe in their own image ... when in fact it wasn't (real).”

That disconnect extended to the defendant as well, Hoyle said, describing his client as having acted like a “stupid little arrogant jerk” who didn't appreciate the seriousness of the situation during his police interview.

“What are you crying for, yo?” he was videotaped telling his sister as he took numerous cellphone calls at the police station — at one point ignoring officers as they asked him to hang up.

At another point, prosecutors said, Johnson used his cellphone that day to update his Facebook status to read, “One shot kill. Call me John Wayne.” In a letter to another rapper on their label, Johnson appeared to brag about the shooting in two handwritten songs and suggested that jail time has made him a more talented lyricist.

But detectives jumped to conclusions without asking detailed questions that would have shown Johnson felt he was in danger when he fired, the defense argued.

Ngande might have verbally provoked his roommate, teasing and insulting him after Johnson refused to give him a ride to work, but that is not a legal excuse for lethal force, prosecutor Wendi Wilson-Ortiz responded.